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Welcome!I would be the LAST person you would want advice from on this topic as I am pretty computer/forum "handicapped".It took me forever to notice the "quote button" or whatever you call it in the upper right corner of each post.Try that for starters.I don't think there is any sort of tutorial help on this site. If you are more computer capable than me (I hope so, for your sake ), ask specific questions and people will do their best to help you.(In my case, their best at explaining "how to" doesn't usually register well in my brain cells. )You will also learn as you go.m.

if you are replying to a post and hit "send", make sure you see your post before you go any further.if you see the message that others have posted (while you were typing), you will need to hit the post "button" again.there were many times this happened to me and I ended up having to re-type my entire post. hope this helps.(a tutorial on these quirky issues would be helpful on this site for newbies and computer challenged, but I doubt it is a realistic idea)

if you are replying to a post and hit "send", make sure you see your post before you go any further.if you see the message that others have posted (while you were typing), you will need to hit the post "button" again.there were many times this happened to me and I ended up having to re-type my entire post. hope this helps.

hit preview first. not only can you check that your post looks like you want and says what it should; but you'll see if anyone has posted while you were typing.

if you write a big post or take a long time writing, do one of 2 things to NOT lose your post. Either write it offline (in Word, Notepad, etc) then copy and paste it here. Or just before you hit either preview or send, click in the box, click ctrl-A (to highlight all), the ctrl-C (to copy) your post. IF everything screws up and your post gets lost into the ether, you can simply get back to a posting box and ctrl-v to paste what you had written.

oh! and don't forget to use emoticons to help people understand whether you're being snarky or nice with your replies. of course, others will say not to use emoticons but that's clearly why they are so often misunderstood. LOL

hit preview first. not only can you check that your post looks like you want and says what it should; but you'll see if anyone has posted while you were typing.

if you write a big post or take a long time writing, do one of 2 things to NOT lose your post. Either write it offline (in Word, Notepad, etc) then copy and paste it here. Or just before you hit either preview or send, click in the box, click ctrl-A (to highlight all), the ctrl-C (to copy) your post. IF everything screws up and your post gets lost into the ether, you can simply get back to a posting box and ctrl-v to paste what you had written.

oh! and don't forget to use emoticons to help people understand whether you're being snarky or nice with your replies. of course, others will say not to use emoticons but that's clearly why they are so often misunderstood. LOL

LOL mikie! (emoticons)

The preview suggestion doesn't always work out as planned. (i still lose my post at times.)My discovery to hit post again AFTER seeing that someone has posted "in the meantime" seemed to have solved the issue.

(advice from a green bean {me})

or... maybe I am too tired and can't even follow my own train of thought?

oh! and don't forget to use emoticons to help people understand whether you're being snarky or nice with your replies. of course, others will say not to use emoticons but that's clearly why they are so often misunderstood. LOL [/quote]

That does sound like way to much fun! See how many of them I can put intoone post. I'd find it funny but prob. get some WTF? responses. I simply must put it on my to do list now!!

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"We all think and feel differently as the years go by" Thank you, Grey Gardens.

hit preview first. not only can you check that your post looks like you want and says what it should; but you'll see if anyone has posted while you were typing.

if you write a big post or take a long time writing, do one of 2 things to NOT lose your post. Either write it offline (in Word, Notepad, etc) then copy and paste it here. Or just before you hit either preview or send, click in the box, click ctrl-A (to highlight all), the ctrl-C (to copy) your post. IF everything screws up and your post gets lost into the ether, you can simply get back to a posting box and ctrl-v to paste what you had written.

oh! and don't forget to use emoticons to help people understand whether you're being snarky or nice with your replies. of course, others will say not to use emoticons but that's clearly why they are so often misunderstood. LOL

That does sound like way to much fun! See how many of them I can put intoone post. I'd find it funny but prob. get some WTF? responses. I simply must put it on my to do list now!!

I may have just figured out, you can't highlight then "insert part of someones quote. That's whythis is being posted twice. Learning

Thanks!

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"We all think and feel differently as the years go by" Thank you, Grey Gardens.

Hi Everyone,New here. Where can I find a tutorial kind of thing here?Posting, quoting someone properly (Sorry Miss P.), just explanations of how to get the most out of postingin the forums.

Thanks all!

Hey GulfCoast;

Welcome to the forums and thanks for your thread topic -- as a relative newbie here and this being my only on-line community I have wondered what proper etiquette is for a number of things myself. Perhaps this thread will be the reference guide.

Seroconverted: Early 80sTested & confirmed what I already knew: early 90s

Current regimen: Atripla. Last regimen: Epzicom, Sustiva (since its inception with NO adverse side effects: no vivid dreams and NONE of the problems people who can't tolerate this drug may experience: color me lucky )Past regimensFun stuff (in the past): HAV/HBV, crypto, shingles, AIDS, PCP

its a small, but vocal, cast of characters that jump on new posters around here. just ignore them, and take a little comfort that everyone that has been here for a minute knows exactly who those characters are.

so when you find yourself being "sent to the corner" take it with a grain of salt. there are some bitter queens in here.

its a small, but vocal, cast of characters that jump on new posters around here. just ignore them, and take a little comfort that everyone that has been here for a minute knows exactly who those characters are.

so when you find yourself being "sent to the corner" take it with a grain of salt. there are some bitter queens in here.

Please tell me how this fosters forum unity.

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"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

it doesn't, please show me a time when there hasn't been catty infighting in this forum. it is what it is. this is a family, and like all families, somewhat dysfunctional. everybody has an asshole uncle.

it doesn't, please show me a time when there hasn't been catty infighting in this forum. it is what it is. this is a family, and like all families, somewhat dysfunctional. everybody has an asshole uncle.

True - but it sometimes helps to try to remember that the asshole uncle might actually be suffering. Writing people off as "bitter queens" allows us to objectify people, dehumanize them. I submit that people come to this forum for a reason. Do some come to troll? I dunno. It's certainly been done.

But most people wither feel that they need something that this forum has to offer, or feel in the fortunate position of having information and/or experience that might benefit the forum. I always get very uncomfortable when members "warn" others about personalities. It's been my experience that some of the more irascible members actually have been of the most assistance. A few have even sent bottles of pills to people in desperate need, at no small risk to themselves and at their own expense.

You don't find that sort of dedication to support just anywhere.

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"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

i'm not objectifying anyone, or dismissing them, but i do see patterns, and a spade is a spade.

without dredging up the "c" word, its a pattern that i have seen that new posters are treated somewhat dismissively. sure, there are the pat scripted welcome messages, sorry you have to be here, but glad you found us. that sort of thing. then a period of grace, until they say something they learned over at the body, and the flames begin.

gotta set the children straight, how dare they believe something the other rival site said, thats not accepted science! well, how the hell do they know that? oral sex is a prime example, everything i have ever read anywhere but here says that although small there is a percentage of risk of transmission. to my way of reading things, this group is the anomaly on that issue. but don't dare question that science.

and there are also, just as often, and just as predictable, new users expressing frustration at the unwritten rules of this forum. it is really easy to rub up against some of the personalities in here, and sometimes the new posters don't even know they've crossed a line.

all i was saying to the OP was take it for its worth, and let it roll off your back. if anybody was seriously offended by what i said... i dont care. we're all grown ups here. the moderators know how to ban me if they feel it warranted.

you ask how my post fostered forum unity... let me turn that question around for a moment.

how does it foster a welcoming atmosphere to ignore the many (and echoed over time) valid issues of new users. turning a blind eye just entrenches the status quo even more. i think thats a shame, and disengenious. the core group of names in this group doesn't change, and that says something to anyone that listens.

i'm not objectifying anyone, or dismissing them, but i do see patterns, and a spade is a spade.

without dredging up the "c" word, its a pattern that i have seen that new posters are treated somewhat dismissively. sure, there are the pat scripted welcome messages, sorry you have to be here, but glad you found us. that sort of thing. then a period of grace, until they say something they learned over at the body, and the flames begin.

gotta set the children straight, how dare they believe something the other rival site said, thats not accepted science! well, how the hell do they know that? oral sex is a prime example, everything i have ever read anywhere but here says that although small there is a percentage of risk of transmission. to my way of reading things, this group is the anomaly on that issue. but don't dare question that science.

and there are also, just as often, and just as predictable, new users expressing frustration at the unwritten rules of this forum. it is really easy to rub up against some of the personalities in here, and sometimes the new posters don't even know they've crossed a line.

all i was saying to the OP was take it for its worth, and let it roll off your back. if anybody was seriously offended by what i said... i dont care. we're all grown ups here. the moderators know how to ban me if they feel it warranted.

you ask how my post fostered forum unity... let me turn that question around for a moment.

how does it foster a welcoming atmosphere to ignore the many (and echoed over time) valid issues of new users. turning a blind eye just entrenches the status quo even more. i think thats a shame, and disengenious. the core group of names in this group doesn't change, and that says something to anyone that listens.

Zach: Why don't you start your own thread instead of hijacking someone else's -- The OP was asking about how to use varius bells and whistles and other forum posting tips.... Your self-serving diatrabe did nothing to answer his initial post.

Unless of course, you have other intentions - other than being supportive and responding to the OPs question(s) rather than trying to fulfill your own agenda.

I am deeply sorry to the OP. I had no idea this exchange would incite such a derailing. I have started a new thread for that issue.

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"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

its a small, but vocal, cast of characters that jump on new posters around here. just ignore them, and take a little comfort that everyone that has been here for a minute knows exactly who those characters are.

so when you find yourself being "sent to the corner" take it with a grain of salt. there are some bitter queens in here.

it doesn't, please show me a time when there hasn't been catty infighting in this forum. it is what it is. this is a family, and like all families, somewhat dysfunctional. everybody has an asshole uncle.

i'm not objectifying anyone, or dismissing them, but i do see patterns, and a spade is a spade.

without dredging up the "c" word, its a pattern that i have seen that new posters are treated somewhat dismissively. sure, there are the pat scripted welcome messages, sorry you have to be here, but glad you found us. that sort of thing. then a period of grace, until they say something they learned over at the body, and the flames begin.

gotta set the children straight, how dare they believe something the other rival site said, thats not accepted science! well, how the hell do they know that? oral sex is a prime example, everything i have ever read anywhere but here says that although small there is a percentage of risk of transmission. to my way of reading things, this group is the anomaly on that issue. but don't dare question that science.

and there are also, just as often, and just as predictable, new users expressing frustration at the unwritten rules of this forum. it is really easy to rub up against some of the personalities in here, and sometimes the new posters don't even know they've crossed a line.

all i was saying to the OP was take it for its worth, and let it roll off your back. if anybody was seriously offended by what i said... i dont care. we're all grown ups here. the moderators know how to ban me if they feel it warranted.

you ask how my post fostered forum unity... let me turn that question around for a moment.

how does it foster a welcoming atmosphere to ignore the many (and echoed over time) valid issues of new users. turning a blind eye just entrenches the status quo even more. i think thats a shame, and disengenious. the core group of names in this group doesn't change, and that says something to anyone that listens.

Zach,

What the hell is wrong with you? Is this how you treat a member who is looking for information? What an awful thing to do to a new member?

If you want to find a source of conflict in this forum, check the nearest mirror.

hit preview first. not only can you check that your post looks like you want and says what it should; but you'll see if anyone has posted while you were typing.

if you write a big post or take a long time writing, do one of 2 things to NOT lose your post. Either write it offline (in Word, Notepad, etc) then copy and paste it here. Or just before you hit either preview or send, click in the box, click ctrl-A (to highlight all), the ctrl-C (to copy) your post. IF everything screws up and your post gets lost into the ether, you can simply get back to a posting box and ctrl-v to paste what you had written.

oh! and don't forget to use emoticons to help people understand whether you're being snarky or nice with your replies. of course, others will say not to use emoticons but that's clearly why they are so often misunderstood. LOL

I don't do a single one of those things. Typos > emoticons. I absolutely refuse to proofread my posts. This isn't a college English class. And they don't use emoticons in class either. Can you imagine?

write a couple of long posts and have them just disappear into the ether, as happens on the net sometimes - and in specific when this site is acting up - and you might want to take this pretty common precaution, which I was suggesting to Mitch

1) I proof my posts because sometimes I feel better having just written whatever it was and getting it off my chest. When I proof my writing I realize I'd be better off not posting at all. I would have gotten myself into a lot more flamewars if I had actually posted everything I've written. LOL

2) I find I often think much faster than I type. Proofreading each of my posts is an absolute must to ensure that I include all the words my fingers didn't have time to type while keeping up with my thoughts

as a bonus, I should point out, that previewing your post will show you when you screw up a quote, url, img tag or img url

write a couple of long posts and have them just disappear into the ether, as happens on the net sometimes - and in specific when this site is acting up - and you might want to take this pretty common precaution,

1) I proof my posts because sometimes I feel better having just written whatever it was and getting it off my chest. When I proof my writing I realize I'd be better off not posting at all. I would have gotten myself into a lot more flamewars if I had actually posted everything I've written. LOL

You must have misunderstood what I was talking about as this is not a user-error problem; but a server/site issue. of course, this sort of thing happens with servers on the net all the time because the net is far from perfect. I'd definitely be surprised if you're telling us you've never encountered time-outs and lost form data before.

Let's see. +20,000 posts on my end to your pathetic ~5,000 and yet I've never had a post disappear. Then again, I don't spend hours composing a bunch of drivel that would cause me to commit ritual seppuku should it disappear in a puff of dragon smoke.

On another note I just woke up from a nap vomiting on my own digestive juices. Supposedly I no longer have sleep apnea but frankly I think my fancypants doctor that was once on Oprah is lying to me.

as I pointed out with those links, it's always a server issue. Be thankful you've never been online posting during some of the days before the move to the new server here and then as the team got us up and running. There were a lot of problems back then. This site has even had several virus attacks that have caused issues - along with posting errors.

Sometimes I will type a long reply in AM I INFECTED, only to press "post" and discover the post was locked. Sigh.

Some of my greatest gems, lost.

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"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

Welcome to the forums and thanks for your thread topic -- as a relative newbie here and this being my only on-line community I have wondered what proper etiquette is for a number of things myself. Perhaps this thread will be the reference guide.

Again, welcome and wish you the best,JM

Thank you JM,I have learned guite a bit in this short time. Just as in a gay bar, there are those who arethere just to be bitches and and if you keep your ears open you can find those who arethere to help and be a friend. Thanks for you kind comments.

K

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"We all think and feel differently as the years go by" Thank you, Grey Gardens.

What the hell is wrong with you? Is this how you treat a member who is looking for information? What an awful thing to do to a new member?

If you want to find a source of conflict in this forum, check the nearest mirror.

Joe

Thank you, BOTH. There is in fact a learning curve here and apparently a lot of queenswaiting to pounce on you for whatever reasone. So thanks for those of you who understandwhere I am coming from. For those who dont't ..... sometimes it's better to say nothing at all. .............If your southern..."I really don't know that poster to well".

Thanks and best luck to all

K

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"We all think and feel differently as the years go by" Thank you, Grey Gardens.

Thank you, BOTH. There is in fact a learning curve here and apparently a lot of queenswaiting to pounce on you for whatever reasone. So thanks for those of you who understandwhere I am coming from. For those who dont't ..... sometimes it's better to say nothing at all. .............If your southern..."I really don't know that poster to well".

Thanks and best luck to all

K

I have been on this site for ten years and I still can't upload a photo or paste a link worth shit.

My learning curve is a bit of a hamster wheel.

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"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."